Machine for folding and applying tape



spt 9, 1947. H. J. vAcHoN 2,427,240

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND APPLYINGTAPB Filed April 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet1 "lill/l jizz/MWI' MwZw/z l w darm l Sept 9, 1947. H. J. vAcHoNA2,427,240

CHINE FOR FOLDING AHD-APPLYING TAKE Filed April 1o, 1946 2 sheets-sheetV2 Qwewff rafeieafspee, ieri Hubert J. Vachon, Georgetown, Mass.,assigner to Boston Machine Works Company, Lynn,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Applicationnprn 10, 194e, serialNo. 661,175

tape from the edge of the work can readily bev controlled, so that themachine can be successfully operated by relatively unskilled labor.

More particularly, the invention relates to irni provements in a tapeapplying machine by which tape can be longitudinally folded and thenapplied to the ball and shank portions of an innersole which has beenedge-channeled. Edge channels in innersoles customarily start near oneside edge of the shank, progress along the margin of the sole around theball portion thereof and back to the other side edge of fthe shankportion. The initial and final portions of the channel, that is, thoseportions which extend along the margins of the shank, are spaced alittle further from the edge of the innersole than the intermediateportion of the channel which runs around 'the fore part of theinnersole. 1t Lis desirable that the tape be applied in such a manner asto be uniformly adjacent to the channel. That means that the spacing ofthe Itape from the edge of the innersole should vary' exactly as doesthe spacing of the lchannel from the Same edge. According to thepresentV invention, a gauging device is provided to regulate suchspacing.

AFor a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may behad to the following l description thereof, and to the drawings, of

which: l y

' Figure 1 isv a side elevational view of a machine embodying theinvention; v

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective .view of the two presser members of themachine;

Figure 4 is a plan View of an innersole to which tape has been appliedby the machine; Figure 5 is a front view of the significant portions othe machine shown in Figure 1; f

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an edge gauge Von the machine;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the work support together with a modied formof edge gauge mechanism;

11 claims'.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure`7;

1 Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7;

5 Figure 10 is a section on the line Ill- I0 of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the work supporting anviland the adjacent guiding means.

Basically, the machine is similar in many respects lto earlier tapeapplying machines such as those shown and' described, for example, inPatent No. 1,234,950,granted to Staples on July3l, 1917, Patent No.1,549,376, granted to Osgood on 15 August 11, 1925, and other patents.

In Figure 1 the leftside elevation of the machine is shown, including abase on which is rotatably mounted a work table in the form of an anvilroll 22 freely revolvable about the axis 20 of a horizontal shaft 24,the work W being "sup-- ported on the top or crest of the rol1.22 Theworkrtable also includes a'bracket 26 having a.

horizontal portion .28, the upper surface of which is in a plane whichis approximately tangent to 25 the cylindrical periphery of the roll 22-From the.

end of the horizontal portion 28 an extension 30 projects beside theedge of the roll to a point somewhat beyond the crest of the roll. Thisprojection 30 is preferably in the form of a 30 narrow thin plate whichaids in the support of the work as it moves over the table, especiallywhen the work piece is relatively thin or limp,

. To a fixed upper frame 32 is secured a fixed arm 34 for the support ofa roll 36 of tape.y The tape 35 for which this machine is primarilydesigned is a heavy bias tape having a tacky surface on one side thereofso that some resistance is encountered when the tape is pulled from theroll. A

puller device is shown in Figure 1 for pulling the 4o tape from the rollso that there will not be excess tension on the tape folding and feedingmechanisms hereinafter described. This puller device is carried by, anoscillating member 40 which is actuated by a suitable eccentric 42 inthe man- 45 ner shown in Patent No. 1,549,376. A bracket 44 is securedto thismember, this bracket projecting ,up to a point in the path of thetape as it is drawn from the roll 36. Secured to the bracket 44 is a.guide member 48 over which the tape passes. Above this guide member 48is a detent or pawl 58 which engages the upper surface of the tapejustgafterit passes the guide 48, The

detent 50 is pivoted as at 52 so that it swings A freely and acts toprevent retrograde movement of the tape across the guide member 48. The

bracket 44 to reciprocate with the detent 50', permitting the tape tomove over the guide 48 in the direction of'feed but preventing tape frommoving in the opposite direction. Hence, as long as the slack'beyond the`guide 48 is taken up, the reciprocating detent 50 ,pulls more tape awayfrom the roll 36.

Adjacent to the guide 48 is a`folding device generally indicated at 54.This device is carried by an arm 55 projecting froma bracket 56 which issecured to a second oscillating member 51. The latter is located behindand is" similar to the oscillating member 40. It is also actuated by aneccentric which is on the same-shaft as the eccentric 42 but in oppositephase. As indicated in Figure 2, the folder comprises a number of platesorstrips of metal or the like adjustably bolted together, some of theplates being spaced from each other in such a way as to provide anaperture through which the tape is drawn, this aperture being shaped tofold the tape progressively so as to form a longitudinal rib thereinwhich is spaced from both side edges of the tape. As shown, a thin plate60 is next to theI arm 55. Next to the plate 60 area pair of plates 62and 64, these plates being of considerable thickness and beingadjustably spaced apart to form a crevice 66. The edges of the plates 62and 64 on either side of the crevice 66 are parallel and are inclined tothe plane of the plates so that the crevice itself is inclined withrespect to the plane of theplates. This crevice, as indicated in Figure2, is adjusted to be slightly wider than double the thicknessof thetape. Next to the plates 62 and 64 are a pair of thin plates 68 and 10,these plates being in a common plane and having a thickness slightlygreater thanthat of the tape. The space between the plates 68 and 10determines the width of the folded tape after it has been narrowed toform the longitudinal rib therein. The space between the edges of thethin plates 68 and 10 adjoins ,thev crevice 56 so that they combine toform a properly shaped aperture through which the tape is drawn, theaperture being completed by a plate 12 which is against the plates 68and 10.- As a result of crowdingtape through this aperture, thelongitudinal rib i-s formed within the crevice.v The marginal portionsof the tape which remain in the original plane, pass through the spacebetween the thin plates 68 and '10.` The parts of the folder are heldtogether by any suitable means such as bolts 14 and 16, the bolt 14 alsoserving to securev the folder to the arm 55. By adjusting the plates towiden the crevice 66 and to narrow the space between the plates 68 and18, the size of the rib in the tape can be increased to a limitedextent.

Secured to'the back of the plate 60 by welding or otherwise is a guidemember 18 having a rounded flange 19 along its upper edge which islocated above the folder 54. The portion of the guide 18 below thefolder 54 is curved convexly to support the folded tape in the plane ofthe plates 68 and 10 as it leaves the folder. This convex guide surfacehas important functions as hereinafter explained.

From the guide 18 the tape passes around a guide roller 80 to a'knurledfeed roll 82. The roll 82 is on a horizontal shaft 84 which also carriesa ratchet wheel 86 and is journalled in the bracket 56. A detent 88carried by the lsame ment between it and a. pawl 80 which is mounted onthe frame 82 and is spring pressed by a spring 84 (Figure 5) to holdrthepawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 86. Since the tape puller 48is carried by the oscillating member 40, land the bracket 56, on whichare the the other oscillating member 51, the puller 48 bracket preventsreverse rotation of the* ratchet l wheel. The wheel is advanced byrelativ? mov@- and feed wheel 82 are always moving in mutually oppositedirections as theyv oscillate, since the members 48 and 51 are inopposite phase. Thus when the puller 48 and feed whee1'82 movetowardeach other, tape is pulled from the roll 36 and slack is provided.between the puller and the feed wheel. When these members move away fromeach other, this slack is taken up by the feed wheel which is rotated atthe Sametime by the pawl 90, and the puller recedes for a fresh grip onthe tape. The feeding movements of the feed wheel 82 which drags thetape through the folder 54 result in a considerable tension in fthe tapebetween the folder and the feed wheel owing to the resistance of thetape to passage through the folder. The` convex portion of the guidemember 18 supports the folded tape at this point and serves to preventdiagonal stresses which would tend to crowd the edges of the tape stillnearer together and thus to jam the tape' in the crevice 66. This convexguide also serves to set the fold in the tape since the tape is pressedstrongly against this portion of the guide member by .its own tension asit leaves the folder 54. l y

From the feed wheel 82 the tape passes around an idle roller 96 which ismounted on an arm 98 pressed by the spring |00 to maintain a tension onthe tape as it comes from the feed wheel 82.` The tape extends from theguide roll 96 around another guide |02, then down through a 'guide slot|04 in a bracket |06 which projects out from a fixed arm 92 secured tothe frame 32, and from there to a guide |08 which'is lof 'cated abovethe work table. From under the guide |08 the tape passes over a guide||0 which is a shallow` trough supported by arms ||2. These arms projectfrom a bolt ||3 which also carries the guide |08 and is secured to thefixed arm 92. A spring pressed detent |4 bears on the upper face of thtape as it passes over the guide element .I l0 and thus preventsretrograde movement of the tape over the guide H0. As indicated inFigure 1, theguide I|0 is directly over and adjacent to the crest or topof the Work supporting roll 22. Adjacent to the guide H0 are a pair ofpresser feet |20 and |22 which may be termed a hammer and a pleatingbar, respectively, and which are the lower terminals of members |24 and|26 illustrated in Figure 3, The bottom faces of the presser feet |20and |22 are serrated or knurled so as to provide a firm grip on the tapewhich passes under and is pressed down by these feet. The presser footmembers |24 and |26 are secured respectively to the oscillating members40 and 51 which rock about the axis of a fixed bolt |30 as a fulcrum,these oscillating members each having a central slot |32 through whichthe bolt |30 projects from the upper frame 32. which actuate the members40 and 51 cause circular movement of the eccentric straps at the upperends of these members, it is evident from Figure 1 that the feet |20 and|22 will also move in somewhat circular paths, Since the eccentrics arein opposite phase, the feet will engage the tape on the Work inalternation and will Since the eccentrics feed the work piece as thetape is pressed against the upper face thereof. As indicated in Figure10. the presser foot |2||v engages the inner or wider leg |40 of thetape. The presser foot |22 engages the outer or narrower leg |42 ofthetape. At the end of the ypresser foot A|22 is a narrow transversepresser element |46 which is centrally notched as at |48 to straddle therib |50 of the tape so that the element |46 can press firmly againstboth the inner and outer legs of the tape. The eilect of this presserelement is to smooth down the plaits |52 formed in the inner leg |40 ofthe tape and the toe of the innersole where the greatestcurvature of thetape takes place, as indicated in Figure 4.

The innersoles to which tape is to be applied by the machine hereindescribed are edge channeled as at |54 (Figure 10). This edge channelextends along the vmargins of the shank and wall portions of theinnersole starting at the rear of the shank portion and proceedingaround to the rear of the shank portion on the other side as indicatedin Figure 4. The channel is deeper along the margins of the shankportion than it is along the margins of the ball portion of theinnersole. It is desirable that the tape be applied so that it isuniformly arranged with relation to the inner edge of the channel. Tofacilitate the proper application of the tape to the innersole, an edgegauge |60 is provided as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This gauge maybe conveniently mounted in a suitable bracket |62 which is carried on anarm |64 secured to the base 20 by screws |65. The upper base of thebracket |62 is channeled to receive the gauge member |60. The latter,asl indicated in Figure 6, may be of U-shape, the upper arm of the.

U terminating in a rounded bevelled end |66 which is adapted to enterthe channel |54 in the edge of the innersole and act as a feeler. Spacedslightly above the feeler |66 is a guard element 4|68 beneath which themargin of the innersole moves. This prevents the innersole from beingpulled upward in such a way as to dislodge the feeler |66 from the edgechannel |54. Since the tip of the feeler |66 is definitely located withrespect to the guide element H0, the tape which leaves this guideelement is definitely located with respect to the inneredge of thechannel engaged by the tip of the feeler |66.

Figuresf?, 8, and 9 illustrate a modified form of edge gauge comprisinga gauging member |10 against which the edge of an innersole is pressedby the operator during the application of the tape thereto. This gaugeelement |10 is mounted on a bracket |12 which is carried by a rod |14 aportion of which is slidable in a hole in the base 20. The rod |14 ispressed toward the right by a spring |16 which is compressed between thebracket |12 and the rear face of the base 20. A guide pin |11 projectsfrom the arm |80 and slides in a hole through the arm |64 to steady therod |14 against rotation. 'I'he rod |14 carries an arm |80 which bearsagainst a hand lever |82 pivoted at |84 to the arm |64. The hand levercarries a pin |86 which projects down from theA lower face thereof andis bevelled at |88. This pin is adapted to catch behind the arm |64 soas to hold the edge gauge |10 in an operating po.. sition toward theleft. Since the edge of the innersole is pressed against the gaugeelement |10 during the application of tape thereto, the tape` is locatedas near as permissible to the edge of the`innersole when the gaugeelement |10 is in to move the pin |86 clear of the arm |64, This permitsthe spring |16 to push therod |14 and the parts secured thereto towardthe right, the extent of such movement being limited by engagement ofthe arm with an adjustable stop element |80 mounted on the arm 64. Assoon as the tape has been applied to the shank portion of the innersole,the operator swings the handle |82 toward the left until the pin |86engages behind the arm |64. A portion of the top edge of the arm |64 inthe path of travel of the pin |86 is bevelled as at |92 so that thebevelled end |88 of the pin can cam the lever |82 upward when it isswung toward the left, and thus prevent inadvertent catching of the pinagainstthe bracket. It is held in this position while the tape is beingapplied to the ball portion of the innersole whereupon the hand lever isreleased and swung toward the right so that the final portion of thetape applied to the innersole is spaced at a greater distance from theedge of the innersole as indicated in Figure 4.

l. In a tape applying machine, a support for a roll of tape having atacky surface on one side, oscillating means for pulling said tapeprogressively from said roll, means for folding said tape to form alongitudinal rib spaced from the edges of the tape, a Work support,means for guiding the folded tape to said work support, presser feetadjacent to said support, means for pressing said feet in alternationagainst work on said support, and an edge gauge engagealcle by the workpiece to determine the spacing of the tape from the edge of the Workpiece.

2. In a machine for applying tape to a face of an innersole or the like,a support for a roll of tape having a tacky surface on one side,oscillating means for pulling said tape progressively from said roll,means for folding saidtape to form a longitudinal rib spaced from theedges of the tape, feed means for drawing the tape through said foldingmeans, a work support,

means for guiding the folded tape to said support, presser feet adjacentto said support, means for pressing said feet in alternation againstWork on said support, and an edge gauge engageable by a work piece onthe support to determine the spacing of the tape from the edge thereof.

3. In a machine for applying tape to an edgechanneled innersole or thelike, a support for a roll of tape having a tacky surface, means forfolding the tape to form a longitudinal rib therein between the edgesthereof, feeding means mounted near said folding means and adapted topull the tape therethrough, reciprocating means between the roll andfolding means for pulling the tape progressively from the'roll,l ananvil roll rotatable on a horizontal axis to support the work, a hammerand a pleating bar supported immediately above said anvil roll, meansfor imparting oscillating movements to said hammer and pleating bar inopposite phase to press` said hammer and bar alternately against work onsaid anvil roll, means for guiding the tape from said feeding means tosaid anvil roll, and an edge gauge supported adjacent to said anvilroll, said gauge having a feeler element adapted which the tape is beingapplied.

to engage in the edge channel of the work to- 4. A machine foriongitudinaiiy folding a strip l of tapeand applying'the same to an edgechanneled innersole, comprising a main frame, a sup-` port for a roll oftape mounted on said frame, a

folding device mounted on said frame and adapted to produce salongitudinal rib intape drawn therethrough, feeding means on said framefor tape between the roll and the folding device, an i anvil rollmounted on said frame and rotatable about a horizontal axis to support awork piece during the application of tape thereto, ka fixed supportmember having a horizontal portion apor, the like, a tape folding devicecomprising a.

pair of thin plates arranged in a common plane and having parallel edgesspaced apart a distance equal to the overall width of the folded tape,the thickness of said plates being slightly greater than that of thetape to be folded, a pair of thicker plates in face to face engagementwith said thin plates, -said thicker plates being spaced apart andpresenting to each other parallel edges which are inclined with respectto theplane of the plates, the spacing between said inclined edges beingslightly more than twice the thickness of the tape to be folded, andmeans adjustably securing all four said plates together with proximatelytangent to the crest of the roll, an

edge gauge mounted on said frame adjacent to lsaid roll, said gaugehaving a ,feeler element to said work support a tape having alongitudinal rib spaced from both edges thereof, and means for pressingthe tape against the work piece on said support, said pressing meansincluding a presser member having a knurled surface adapt-4 ed to pressagainst length of the marginal surface of the tape near the point ofapplication i thereof to the work and on one side of the rib and asecond presser memberhaving a knurled portion adapted to engage surfaceof the tape on the other side of therib and a transverse portionstraddling the rib to engage the tape on both sides thereof, and meansfor oscillating said presser members in opposite phase whereby saidmembers press said tapein alternation.

6. In a machine for applying tape to edgechanneled innersoles orthe'like, a work support,

means for guiding tape to work on said support, an edge gauge for thework mounted adjacent to saidvsupport, said gauge having a feelerelement projecting over said support from a side thereof g to engage inthe edge channel of the work and a guard element above said feelerelement to be engaged by the upper surface of the work.

7. In a machine for applying tape which has one stickyv face,a` frame,awork support carried by said frame, .a support on said frame for a rollofltape, an oscillating member mounted `on said frame, a presserl footcarried by said member in position to cooperate with said work support,oneway feeding means carried by said member and oscillating therewith todraw tape from said roll, and means for guiding the tape fromsaidfeeding meansv to said work-support. L l

8. In amachine for applying tape'toinnersoles the spaces between saidpairs of plates arranged in the form of the desired cross-sectionalshape of the folded tape.

9. In a machine for applying tape having a tacky surface, a support fora roll of said tape, a folding device supported adjacent to said rollsupport, a feed wheel adapted to draw said tape through said foldingdevice, and a convex guide surface between said folding device and feedwheel, said guide surface being arranged to'receive and support the tapeas it leaves the folding device.

10. In a machine for applying tape having a tacky surface, a support fora roll of said tape, means for pulling said tape progressively from theroll, means for folding the tape as it comes from said pulling means, afeed wheel for dragging said tape through the folding means, and a guidevbetween said folding means and feed wheel against which the tape ispressed by its tension between the folding device and feed wheel.

11. In a machine for applying tape having a tacky surface, a main frame,a support for a roll of tape mounted on said frame, a device for pullingtape from said roll mounted for oscillation on said frame, a bracketmounted for oscillation on said frame, tape folding means, a convexguide surface and a feed wheel mounted on said bracket and a ratchetwheel on said feed wheel, a pawl supported by a stationary part of saidframe for engagement with said pawl to rotate said feed wheel when` saidbracket oscillates, said guide surface being arranged to be pressed bythe tape as it leaves the folding device whereby to set the folds inthetape.

` HUBERT J. VACHON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le -ofvthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Osgood Apr. 11. 1939

